They are two different states.
Some people behave differently to meet a demand or the perceived demand in a particular situation. Because these behaviors are different from their natural state, they are called the adaptive state. The adaptive state is often associated with the desired outcome. For example, when people need to please someone, they talk and behave to meet that person's expectations and reach the pleasing goal.
Like many things, the adaptive state can be helpful when it works for the benefit of others as well. However, if not careful, adaptive behaviors only serve one's gains but at the expense of others.
In the coaching world, resourcefulness means a person has positive, helpful emotions and strategies available to them, which is often associated with positive behaviors and outcomes. For example, Marie Forleo's mantra says, "Everything is figureoutable," reminding people of strategy abundance instead of strategy scarcity. When noticing a lack of information, another example is supporting others with a video or website to share and bring the team on the same page.
Resourcefulness isn't about resolving a problem at the expense of others but about creating a solution that helps people who need it.
Adaptive might work in some situations, but it is the resourcefulness that we want to learn and get better over time as coaches. Because this is one way we learn to see beyond ourselves.
